The Polite No
Who this book is for
Người làm sản phẩm ở doanh nghiệp Việt Nam: product manager, product owner, trưởng nhóm sản phẩm ở công ty phần mềm, ứng dụng di động, sàn thương mại điện tử, fintech và bộ phận số của doanh nghiệp truyền thống; làm việc hằng ngày với kỹ sư, thiết kế, đội bán hàng và chăm sóc khách, thường không có đội nghiên cứu người dùng hay phân tích dữ liệu riêng.
Sound familiar?
- Says yes to everything, misses commitments and loses trust.
- The boss sends a new idea by message at night and expects it in the plan by morning.
- Hesitates to refuse other department heads who are more senior.
- Every no restarts the argument because there are no shared criteria.
After reading, you can
Help product people decline or defer requests clearly and with reasons.
Each chapter answers one question
Chapter 1: Every time I say yes, who hears no?
What did my latest yes take time away from?
Every yes takes time from something else already promised.
Chapter 2: Is it my no, or the team's rule?
What criteria does my team use to decide whether to accept a request?
A no is easier to hear when it rests on criteria everyone already agreed to.
Chapter 3: Can you say no and still make people feel heard?
What do I say so the requester feels their problem was heard?
People accept a no when they feel understood.
Chapter 4: With the boss, say no, or name the trade-off?
What option do I give my boss instead of a flat no?
With a boss, asking what to trade for what works better than saying no.
Chapter 5: After I say no, will they still be honest?
Does the person I just turned down still want to bring problems to me?
How you keep the relationship after a no decides whether they will be honest with you next time.